lambert



11, 1959 u. L. LAMBERT STAMP APPLICATION MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed. Sept. -16, 195'? INVENTOR.

Aug. 11, 1959 u. L. LAMBERT STAMP APPLICATION MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 16, 1957 FIG. 2.

lllllll FIG. 6.

Aug. 11, 1959 Filed Sept. 16, 1957 U. L. LAMBERT STAMP APPLICATION MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 11, 1959 u. L. LAMBERT STAMP APPLICATION MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. I6.

Aug. 11, 1959 U. L. LAMBERT STAMP APPLICATION MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 16, 1957 FIG. l2

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. 4 m 7 T A m Z V W. .9 7 m, .6 F 6 o 5/. a WWW! W 4 I K G w Gi -m: H a! United States Patent tenth to Gadget-Of-The-Month Club, Inc., Los Aiigeles, Califi, a corporation of California Application September 16, 1957, Serial No. 684,320 6 Claims. (Cl. 216-45) Generally speaking, the present invention relates to the stamp atfixing art and, more particularly, relates to an improved stamp application machine cooperable for picking up a stamp from a pickup region and depositing it in a stamp application region.

Applicant is aware of the fact that prior art stamp application machines have been developedheretofore and that such prior art stamp application machines are disadvantageous for various reasons. The biggest .single disadvantage of the prior art stamp arrangements is their inherent complexity which virtually precludes their widespread manufacture and use. Many of these prior art devices have so many parts that assembly would involve a great many man-hours, not to mention the many differ out parts which require special machining. It is easily seen that, even if these prior art stamp devices were manufactured, the problem of adjustment and maintenance of these complex prior art machines would be another hurdle the manufacturer would have to face to insure that his machines have a ready market, since it is virtually impossible except for an especially trained mechanic to repair a machine of this type. The cost of manufacturing and training skilled repairmen for these prior art stamps machines makes it virtually impossible for a manufacturer to put prior art devices on the market in view of the fact that the market, in itself, is relatively small and, in addition, requires reliable performance, which is almost unattainable because of the complexity of the devices. In industries where there would be advantages in using stamp application machines, another objection would arise in connection with the operation of the prior art stamp arrangements which would tend to further restrict their usefulness. These firms (mail order, for example) require fast operation which is not possible with the prior art stamp arrangements due to the many moving parts which they require. Another important disadvantage attendant with prior art stamp application machines is thelimited amount of stamp selection and the user is generally restricted to a single" stamp denomination.

The present invention was developed primarily to overcome the aforementioned problems and, generally speaking, can he said to consist of carriage means cooperable for movement between a stamp application region and a remote stamp pickup region alternately in opposite directions, whereby stamp transmissive means are cooperable for converting the energy from the carriage means and successively advancing a roll of stamps into said stamp pickup region. Prior to actuation of the carriage,

stamp selection means are actuated in order to drivingly advance a stamp of a selected denomination which is mounted with respect to the stamp transmissive means. The stamp isadvanced onto a stamp pickup plate whereupon the severing means is actuated into severing movement by severing actuating means on the carriage. Reciprocating means is cooperable, upon movement of the carriage means, for actuating pneumatic stamp pickup means from the stamp application region to the stamp 2,899,094 Patented Aug. 11, 1959 2 pickup region and back therefrom thereby effectively picking up a severed stamp from the pickup plate, moistening it, and adhesively depositing it in the stamp applica tion region. The envelopes or other items to be stamped are mounted on spring biased platform means within the stamp application region.

From the above description of basic and generic forms of the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that virtually all of the hereinbefore mentioned prior art problems and/or disadvantages are substantially entirely eliminated, met and/or overcome in and through use of the present invention.

An object of the present invention is to provide a stamp application machine which will successively advance any one of a plurality of stamp denominations, sever a stamp from a continuous roll, pick the stamp up, moisten it, and adhesively deposit it in a stamp application region in a manner which is extremely fast.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stamp application machine which will accommodate a number of continuous stamp rolls, preferably of different denominations.

A further object of the present invention is to provide pneumatic stamp pickup means for a stamp application machine and including trip means of greatly improved characteristics.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a stamp application machine including actuating means including carriage means and means mounting said carriage means for movement between a stamp pickup region and a stamp application region, with said actuating means including power conversion and transmission means having an output portion, and with said power conversion and transmission means being coupled to said mounting means and said carriage means and reciprocatingly moving said output portion in response to movement of said carriage means between said stamp ,pickup region .and saidstamp application region; said power conversion and transmission means being employed to directly operate pneumatic stamp pickup means and move .it from the stamp pickup region, to an intermediate stamp moistening region and thence to a stamp application region, after which this sequence of movements is reversed by manually oppositely moving the carriage means with respect to the mounting means, thus oppositely operating the power conversion and transmission means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character set forth in the preceding objects, which may be inexpensively manufactured and assembled and which is simple, easy to operate and of virtually foolproof construction.

Other and allied objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a careful perusal, examination and study of the accompanying illustrations, the present specification, and the appended claims.

To facilitate understanding, reference will be made to the 'hereinbelow described figures, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and partly in section, of the stamp application machine with the housing removed;

Fig. 2 is aperspective view of the stamp application machine enclosed within an illustrative housing;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear elevational view, partly brokenaway, of the device with the housing removed, the reciprocating means and pneumatic pickup member at the left shown partly in section, and with the trip means and the pneumatic ,pickup member at the right shown in elevation;

Fig. 4a is an enlarged transverse view of the partially revolvable head of the pneumatic pickup means in the position shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 4b is an enlarged transverse view of the partially revolvable head of the pneumatic pickup means in the stamp deposition position shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 5 is an enlargedfragmentary view, partly broken away, of the pneumatic pickup means and a fragmentary side elevational view of the trip means, with the trip lever actuating the piston inward;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly broken away, of the pneumatic pickup means and a fragmentary top plan view of the trip means after the trip lever has released the piston;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side fragmentary view of the stamp transmissive means and the severing means and with the pneumatic pickup means being actuated into the stamp pickup region, and with the feed roller, opposite the pressure roller, being broken away so as to show its resilient center portion;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side fragmentary view of the view shownin Fig. 7 after the pneumatic pickup means has been actuated onto the stamp pickup plate;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly broken away, of the moistening means in a normal po sition;

Fig. 10 is a side fragmentary elevational view, partly I broken away, showing the wick being actuated within the liquid carrying container by the wick actuating arm on the carriage;

Fig. 11 is a side fragmentary elevational view, partly broken away, showing a stamp being moistened on the return to the stamp application region;

Fig. 12 is a side fragmentary elevational view, partly broken away showing the wick actuating finger being pivoted clear of the weighted wick follower;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view of the pneumatic pickup means;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view of the pneumatic pickup head after it has been partly rotated so as to place the stamp in the correct position on the letter;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the pivotal connection of the pivotal actuating finger on the wick actuating arm, shown in Figs. 9-12; and

Fig. 16 is an enlarged front fragmentary view of the severing blade.

Generally speaking, the present invention consists of rollable carriage means 11 having a pair of pinions 12 on each side thereof which are in meshed engagement with the pair of racks 13, as best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, whereby the carriage 11 may convert linear movement of the carriage 11 along the racks 13 into rotary movement of the pinions 12, which are coupled to rotary-to linear movement conversion means comprising the link ages which will be described more fully hereinafter effectively connecting the pinions .12 to the vertically reciprocating pickup head 45 for vertical reciprocation thereof in response to movement of the carriage 11 along the racks 13 between the stamp application region, indicated generally at A in Fig. l, to the remote stamp pickup region, indicated generally at B in Figs. 1, 7, and 8 and alternately in the opposite direction. The racks 13 are supported by the beams 88.

Stamp transmissive means, indicated generally at C in Figs. 1, 7, and 8, are cooperable for converting the energy from the carriage 11 and successively advancing a selected stamp denomination onto the pickup plate 15. The stamp transmissive means C includes, in this particular embodiment of the present invention, three stamp carriers 16 which carry individual stamp rolls 17, three rotatably mounted guide rollers 99, three upper geared feed rollers 19 provided with finger engaging detents 20, and three reduced intermediate geared feed rollers 21 which impart rotary motion to the bottom geared feed rollers 22, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 7, and 8.

Disposed downwardly of the feed pressure rollers 23 having spring biasing means 24 and which are positioned within the channel 25 of the slidrollers 22 are three by the arm 40 the blade actuator 41 4 able platform 26. The center portions 22A of the feed rollers 22 are resilient so as not to mar the stamps 17 and only the ends thereof have teeth, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 16.

The shafts 27 of the stamp carriers 16 are removably mounted within the easily accessible slots 28 on the carriers 16 for rapid replacement of the stamp rolls 17, as shown in Figs. 1, 7, and 8. The housing 31 includes a back member 46, hingedly mounted at 100, which is cooperable for providing access to the stamp carriers 16 for replacement of the stamp rolls 17, as shown in Fig. 2.

Actuation of the stamp transmissive means C is accomplished by the fixed projecting arm 98 which is carried by the carriage 11, as shown in Fig. 3. The imparting of the rotary motion is effected by the pivotal finger 29 on the arm 98 which is cooperable for engaging the finger engaging spokes 20 on the upper feed rollers 19 as the carriage 11 is being actuated into the stamp pickup region B, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The finger 29 can only pivot in a counter clockwise direction and thus swings clear of the spokes 20 on the return of the carriage 11 to the stamp application region A.

The stamp transmissive means C are mounted on a transversely slidable platform 26, whereby any one of the three stamp rolls 17 may be selectively positioned for stamp application purposes. A stamp selection handle 30 on the face of the housing 31 is mechanically coupled with respect to the slidable platform 26 by means of its integral extension arm 32 and the link 33 which is secured to the extension arm 32 and to the platform 26 at its opposite ends, as shown in Figs. 1-3.

In effect, only one of the three stamp rolls 17 can be brought into operation at one time by the selection handle 30 which controls the transverse movement of the platform 26 whereon the diiferent stamp rolls 17 are mounted. The slidable platform 26 is interlocked with respect to the platform support plate 34 by dovetailing,

, as shown in Fig. 1.

After the stamp transmissive means C has advanced the desired stamp onto the pickup plate 15 the stamp 17A is severed from the continuous roll 17 by one of the blades 35, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. Springs 36 upwardly bias the. blades 35 which are pivotally mounted at 37 to the upright supports 38, as best shown in Fig. 16. Stops 39 on the supports 38 limit the upward movement of the blades 35. There are three blades 35 and they are mounted with respect to the slidable platform 26.

A fixed downwardly projecting arm 40 on the carriage 11 is cooperable, upon actuation into the stamp pickup region B, to engage and depress the single blade actuator 41 which in turn depresses the blade 35 that has been slidably positioned into the center, as best illustrated in Fig. 3, Fig. 7, and Fig. 8.

The blade actuator 41 is pivotally mounted at 42 to the bracket 43 and is normally biased upwardly by the spring 44, as shown in Figs. 1, 7, and 8. After release is biased upward, thereby, in turn, releasing the depressed blade 35 for subsequent upward biasing by the spring 36.

After the stamp 17A has been severed it is picked up by the pneumatic pickup head 45 which has been lowered onto the stamp 17A on the pickup plate 15 by the reciprocating actuating means. The reciprocating actuating'means includes four lower horizontal shafts 47 and four pivotally mounted vertical members 48, as partly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The shafts 47 communicate through transverse support members 55 and are fixedly attached to the pinions 12 at one end and firmly attached to the lower end of the vertical members 48 at their opposite ends by means of the pins 54.

The quartet of vertical members 48 are pivotally mounted with respect to the fixed horizontal and longitudinal guide bars 50 and crossbars 51 by means of the shafts 49 which are attached to the normally vertical members 48 by the pins 54. Said shafts 49 are journalled to the crossbars 51, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The pair of crossbars 51 elfectively connect the pair of horizontal guide bars 50 to the upper portion of the pickup head 45, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. In effect, the reciprocating actuating means operates like a crankshaft in order to take the pickup head 45 from the stamp application region A into the stamp pickup region B and back therefrom, with the pickup head reaching its nadir while directly over the wick 53.

The pneumatic pickup means, as best shown in Fig. 13, includes a pair of cylinders 56, mounted to the support members 55, which have hollow pickup tubes 57 attached at one end thereof and which communicate through the hollow pickup head 45, with the open ends 59 of the tubes 57 protruding from the stamp positioning member 45A of the pickup head 45, whereby a severed stamp 17A is pneumatically picked up and adhesively deposited. In case one of the cylinders 56 should fail to function the other one will pick up and ad- .hesively deposit the severed stamp 17A.

Each of the pistons 60 is mounted within a corresponding cylinder 56 and is provided with a correspond- :ing connecting rod '61 extending to a position exterior :of the corresponding cylinder 56 and carrying there- .around a corresponding coil spring 70; each of said connecting rods being cooperable with the trip means, inditca'ted generally at D in Figs. 5 and '6, for creating a vacuum within the cylinders 56 and tubes 57.

The trip means D includes a pair of trip levers 62 for each cylinder 56 which is cooperable for pushing the ;pistons 66 inwardly of the cylinders 56 and ejecting air .from the open ends 59 as the buttons 64 (on the con- :necting rods 61) engage the dc-tents 65 on the levers 62. The trip levers 62, pivotally mounted at 66 and provided with a spring 63 that is attached at the rear thereof, are actuated backward by the buttons 64 a short way until they are locked into a rigid position by the pair of restraining lock members 67, pivotally mounted at lilll, and the pair of lock rods 69 which interlock within the slots 69A of the members 68 and yieldingly maintain both restraining members 67 in a locked position, asbest shown in Fig. 5.

The lock rod member 6 9, pivotally mounted at 71, is cooperable upon actuation by the release rod 72 for pivoting out of the slot 69A and unlocking the restraining member 6'7, thereby enabling the spring 70 to expand, push the trip lever 62 to the rear, and create a vacuum within the cylinders 56 whereby the severed stamp 17A is picked up, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

The initiation of the vacuum is effectively started as the (pickup head 45 is being lowered onto the pickup plate 15 and with the button 64 engaging the detent '65. The vacuum is created and the trip means D are released (upon actuation by the release rod 72) as the open ends 59 are in contact with the severed stamp 17A, whereby the stamp 17A may be effectively carried to the stamp application region A.

A wick actuating arm member 73 carrying a pivotal actuating finger 74 is cooperable for immersing the wick roller 53 within the liquid carrying container 75 as the carriage 11 is being actuated into the stamp pickup region The pivotal actuating finger 74 is cooperable, as the carriage 11 is actuated into the pickup region A and as best shown in Figs. 9 and 10, for engaging the canted arm 7 6 and actuating it into a substantially horizontal position, thereby immersing the wick 53 entirely within the liquid carrying container 75 and enabling the pickup head 45 to clear it entirely.

A weight 77 on the end of the canted arm 76 moves "the arm 76 and wick 53 into their normal up position When'the wick actuating arm member 73 has passed into the stamp pickup region B, as illustrated in Figs. 3, 9,

and 11.

The pickup head 45A puts the adhesive side of the stamp 17A directly on the wick roller 53 for moistening purposes upon return of the pickup head 45 (with the stamp 17A pneumatically carried thereto) from the pickup region B en route to the stamp application A, as shown in Fig. 11.

The actuating finger 74 has unidirectional hinge means 78, joining it with respect to the actuating member 73, and a spring 79 biasing the finger 74 in a normally perpendicular position with respect to the actuating member 73, as best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 15.

The unidirectional hinging arrangement of the finger 74 permits it to swing clear of the canted arm 76 on the return movement of the carriage 11 and pickup head 45 to the stamp application region A, as best shown in Fig. 12. The spring 79 urges the finger 74 into its normal perpendicular position after it has cleared the arm 76 on the return of the carriage 11 to region A. 1

Mail matter to be stamped is inserted between the platform 80 and the fixed guides 81. Spring means 82 within the tubes 83 urge the platform 80 upwardly. A platform depressing member 84, pivotally mounted at 85, is cooperable, upon upward releasing movement by the actuating rod 86, for pivoting and releasing the platfonm St for subquent upward movement, whereby the mail is compressed to insure stability for the actual stamp application to the mail matter, as shown in Fig. l. The mail matter is compressed prior to the stamp 17a being applied thereto by the pickup head 45A.

Spring means 87, attached to the platform depressing member 84 at one end and to the beams 83 at the opposite end, are cooperable for yieldingly urging the depressing member 84 downwardly, as best shown in Fig. l.

The pickup head 45 includes a bottom partly revolvable stamp position member 45A provided with a horizontally projecting handle 89 which is cooperable, upon engagement of the handle 89 with the detent or projecting finger fixedly mounted in the path of travel of the rotatable and revolvable pickup head member 45A, for partly rotating the pickup member 45A so as to place the stamp 17A in the proper relationship with respect to the mail matter, as illustrated in Figs. 4b and 14.

A spring 91, attached at 92 to the pickup head 45 and at 93 to the partly revolvable head 45A, is cooperable with a pair of stops 94 to rotate the head 45A to its normal stamp pickup position after clearing the detent 949, as shown in Figs. 4a and 13, One of the stops 94 is attached to the pickup head 45 and the other one is attached to the partly revolvable head 45A, as best shown in Figs. 4a and 412.

As the pickup head 45 is applying the stamp 17A to the mail matter on the platform 86 the vacuum release lever 95 engages the fixed, upwardly projecting actuating arm 96, thereby permitting air to enter the aperture 97 so as to destroy the vacuum within the cylinders 56 in order to release the severed stamp 17a which has been adhesively applied to the mail matter, as bat shown in 'Figs. 1 and 13.

Numerous modifications andvariations of the present invention will occur to those skilled in the art after a careful study hereof. All such properly within the basic spirit, scope .and/ or teachings of the present invention are intended to be included and comprehended herein as fully as if specifically described, illustrated and claimed.

The exact compositions, configurations, constructions, relative positionings, and cooperative relationships of the various component parts of the present invention are not critical, and can be modified substantially Within the spirit of the present invention.

The embodiment of the present invention specifically described and illustrated herein is exemplary only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is to be interpreted in the light of the prior art and the appended claims only, with due consideration for the doctrine of equivalents.

I claim:

1. A stamp application machine operable for picking up a stamp from a stamp pickup region, moistening it in a moistening region, and depositing it and affixing it to a surface in a stamp application region, comprising: actuating means including carriage means and means mounting said carriage means for movement in either direction between a stamp pickup region, a stamp moistening region, and a stamp application region, said actuating means ineluding power conversion and transmission means having an output portion, said power conversion and transmission means being coupled to said mounting means and said carriage means and reciprocatingly moving said output portion in response to relative movement of said carriage means and said mounting means between said stamp pickup region and said stamp application region in either direction, said reciprocating movement of said output portion being substantially transverse to said relative movement of said carriage means and said mounting means; stamp transmissive means mounted adjacent said stamp pickup region in advancing cooperation with respect to a roll of stamps and operable to advance a stamp into said stamp pickup region in response to relative movement of said carriage means and said mounting means; severing knife means mounted for movement toward and away from said stamp pickup region in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of a stamp advanced thereinto by said stamp transmissive means, and immediately behind said stam moistening means positioned between said stamp pickup region and said stamp application region; and pneumatic stamp pickup means carried by said reciprocating output portion of said power conversion and transmission means and operable for picking up a severed stamp from said stamp pickup region in response to relative movement of said carriage means and said mounting means in a predetermined location adjacent to said stamp pickup region, said pneumatic stamp pickup means being operable to release and deposit a picked-up stamp in response to relative movement of said carriage means and said mounting means in a predetermined location adjacent to said stamp application region; said reciproeating output portion being operable to reciprocate said stamp pickup means toward said moistening means to place said severed stamp in moistening contact therewith, in response to movement of said carriage means toward said stamp application region while said carriage means is an intermediate position adjacent said moistening region.

2. A stamp application machine operable for picking up a stamp from a stamp pickup region, moistening it in a moistening region, and depositing it and afiixing it to a surface in a stamp application region, comprising: actuating means including carriage means and longitudinal horizontal track means mounting said carriage means for linear longitudinal horizontal movement in either direction along said track means between a stamp pickup region adjacent one end of said track means, an intermediate stamp moistening region, and a stamp application region adjacent another end of said track means, said actuating means including power conversion and transmission means having a reciprocating output portion, said power conversion and transmission means being coupled to said track means and said carriage means and reciproeatingly vertically moving said output portion in response to linear horizontal movement of said carriage along said track means between said stamp pickup region and said stamp application region in either direction; stamp transmissive means rotatably mounted adjacent said stamp pickup region in advancing cooperation with respect to a roll of stamps and operable to advance a stamp into said stamp pickup reigon in response to linear horizontal movement of said carriage means along said track means in a predetermined location adjacent to said stamp pickup region; severing knife means vertically mounted above said stamp pickup region for downward severing moveapplication region and below said V 8 ment toward and away from said stamp pickup region and immediately behind the horizontal position of a stamp advancedinto said stamp pickup region by said stamp transmissive means; moistening means positioned between said stamp pickup region and said stamp application region and below said mounting means; and pneumatic stamp pickup means carried by said reciprocating output portion of said power conversion and transmission means and operable for picking up a severed stamp from sa d stamp pickup region in response to movement of said carriage means toward said stamp pickup region, said pneumatic stamp pickup means being operable to release and deposit a picked-up stamp in response to movement of said carriage means toward said stamp application region; said reciprocating output portion being operable to reciprocate said stamp pickup means toward said moistening means to place said severed stamp in moistening contact therewith, in response to movement of said carriage means toward said stamp application region while said carriage means is in an intermediate position adjacent said moistening region.

3. A stamp application machine operable for picking up a stamp from a stamp pickup region, moistening it in a moistening region, and depositing it and afiixing it to a surface in a stamp application region, comprising: actuating means including carriage means and longitudinal horizontal track means mounting said carriage means for linear longitudinal horizontal movement in either direction along said track means between a stamp pickup region adjacent one end of said track means, an intermediate stamp moistening region, and a stamp application region adjacent another end of said track means, said actuating .means including power conversion and transmission means having a reciprocating output portion, said power conversion and transmission means being coupled to said track means and said carriage means and reciprocatingly vertically moving said output portion in response to linear vhorizontal movement of said carriage along said track means between said stamp pickup region and said stamp application region in either direction, said power conversion and transmission means including longitudinal rack means carried by said track means, rotary gear means carried by said carriage means and engaged with said longitudinal rack means, and rotary-to-linear movement conversion means connected between said rotary gear means and said output portion for reciprocating same in response to rollable movement of said carriage means and said rotary gear means along said longitudinal rack means and in a corresponding sense; stamp transmissive means rotatably mounted adjacent said stamp pickup region in advancing cooperation with respect to a roll of stamps and operable to advance a stamp into said stamp pickup region in response to linear horizontal movement of said carriage means along said track means toward said stamp pickup region; a horizontal stamp pickup plate in said stamp pickup region; severing knife means vertically mounted above said stamp pickup plate for downward severing movement toward and away from said stamp pickup plate and immediately behind the horizontal position of a stamp advanced onto said stamp pickup plate by said stamp transmissive means; moistening means positioned between said stamp pickup region and said stamp mounting means; and pneumatic stamp pickup means carried by said reciprocating output portion of said power conversion and transmission means and operable for picking up a severed stamp from said stamp pickup plate in response to move ment of said carriage means toward said stamp pickup region, said pneumatic stamp pickup means being operable to release and deposit a picked-up stamp in response to movement of said carriage means toward said stamp application region; said reciprocating output portion being operable to reciprocate said stamp pickup means toward said moistening means to place said severed stamp in moistening contact therewith, in response to movement of said 9 carriage means toward said stamp application region while said carriage means is in an intermediate position adjacent said moistening region.

4. A stamp application machine operable for picking up a stamp form a stamp pickup region, moistening it in a moistening region, and depositing it and aflixing it to a surface in a stamp application region, comprising: actuating; means including carriage means and means mounting said carriage means for movement in either direction between a stamp pickup region, a stamp moistening region, and a stamp application region, said actuating means including power conversion and transmission means having an output portion, said power conversion and transmission means being coupled to said mounting means and said carriage means and reciprocatingly moving said output portion in response to relative movement of said carn'age means and said mounting means between said stamp pickup region and said stamp application region in either directiomsaid reciprocating movement of said output portion. being substantially transverse to said relative movement of said carriage means and said mounting means; a plurality of stamp transmissive means, each of said stamp transmissive means being mounted adjacent said stamp pickup region in advancing cooperation with respect to a roll of stamps and operable to advance a stamp into said stamp pickup region in response to relative movement of said carriage means and said mounting means; a slidable platform carrying each of said stamp transmissive means spaced thereon in a direction transverse to the direction of advancing movement of any of the stamps of any of said rolls of stamps toward the stamp pickup region, said platform being transversely slidably mounted for slidable movement of any of said stamp transmissive means into alignment with said stamp pickup region; severing knife means mounted for movement toward and away from said stamp pickup region in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of a stamp advanced thereinto by any of said stamp transmissive means and immediately behind said stamp; moistening means positioned between said stamp pickup region and said stamp application region; and pneumatic stamp pickup means carried by said reciprocating output portion of said power conversion and transmission means and operable for picking up a severed stamp from said stamp pickup region in response to relative movement of said carriage means and said mounting means in a predetermined location adjacent to said stamp pickup region, said pneumatic stamp pickup means being operable to release and deposit a picked-up stamp in response to relative movement of said carriage means and said mounting means in a predetermined location adjacent to said stamp application region; said reciprocating output portion being operable to reciprocate said stamp pickup means toward said moistening means to place said severed stamp in moistening contact therewith, in response to movement of said carriage means toward said stamp application region while said carriage means is in an intermediate position adjacent said moistening region.

5. A stamp application machine operable for picking up a stamp from a stamp pickup region, moistening it in a moistening region, and depositing it and ailixing it to a surface in a stamp application region, comprising: actuating means including carriage means and longitudinal horizontal track means mounting said carriage means for linear longitudinal horizontal movement in either direction along said track means between a stamp pickup region adjacent one end of said track means, an intermediate starnp moistening region, and a stamp application region adjacent another end of said track means, said actuating means including power conversion and transmission means having a reciprocating output portion, said power conversion and transmission means being coupled to said track means and said carriage means and reciprocatingly vertically moving said output portion in response to linear horizontal movement of said carriage along said track means. between said stamp pickup: region and said stamp application region in either direction; a plurality of stamp transmissive means, each of said stamp transmissive means being rotatably mounted horizontally adjacent said stamp pickup region in advancing cooperation with respect to a roll of stamps and operable to advance a stamp into said stamp pickup region in response to linear horizontal movement of said carriage means along said track means in a predetermined location adjacent to said stamp pickup region; a slidable platform carrying each of said stamp transmissive means spaced thereon in a direction transverse to the direction of advancing movement of any of the stamps of any of said rolls of stamps toward the stamp pickup region, said platform being transversely slidabl'y mounted for slidable movement of any of said stamp transmissive means into alignment with said stamp pickup region; controllably movable stamp selection means coupled to said slidable platform for transversely moving same into any selected stamp-feeding position; severing knife means vertically mounted above said stamp pickup region for downward severing movement toward and away from said stamp pickup region and immediately behind the horizontal position of a stamp advanced into said stamp pickup region by any of said stamp transmissiye means; moistening means positioned between said stamp pickup region and said stamp application region and below said mounting means; and pneumtaic stamp pickup means carried by said reciprocating output portion of said power conversion and transmission means and operable for picking up a severed stamp from said stamp pickup region in response to movement of said carriage means toward said stamp pickup region, said pneumatic stamp pickup means being operable to release and deposit a picked-up stamp in response to movement of said carriage means toward said stamp application region; said reciprocating output portion being operable to reciprocate said stamp pickup means toward said moistening means to place said severed stamp in moistening contact therewith, in response to movement of said carriage means toward said stamp application region while said carriage means is in an intermediate position adjacent said moistening region.

6. A stamp application machine operable for picking up a stamp from a stamp pickup region, moistening it in a moistening region, and depositing it and affixing it to a surface in a stamp application region, comprising: actuating means including carriage means and longitudinal horizontal track means mounting said carriage means for linear longitudinal horizontal movement in either direction along said track means between a stamp pickup region adjacent one end of said track means, an intermediate stamp moistening region, and a stamp application region adjacent another end of said track means, said actuating means including power conversion and transmission means having a reciprocating output portion, said power conversion and transmission means being coupled to said track means and said carriage means and reciprocatingly vertically moving said output portion in response to linear horizontal movement of said carriage along said track means between said stamp pickup region and said stamp application region in either direction; said power conversion and transmission means including longitudinal rack means carried by said track means, rotary gear means carried by said carriage means and engaged with said longitudinal rack means, and rotary-to-linear movement conversion means connected between said rotary gear means and said output portion for reciprocating same in response to rollable movement of said carriage means and said rotary gear means along said longitudinal rack means and in a corresponding sense; a plurality of stamp transmissive means, each of said stamp transmissive means being rotatably mounted horizontally adjacent said stamp pickup region in advancing cooperation with respect to a roll of stamps and operable toadvance a stamp into said stamp pickup region in,

11 response to linear horizontal movement of said carriage means along said track means toward said stamp pickup region; a slidable platform carrying each of said stamp transmissive means spaced thereon in a direction transverse to the direction of advancing movement of any of the stamps of any of said rolls of stamps toward the stamp pickup region; said platform being transversely slidably mounted for slidable movement of any of said stamp transmissive means into alignment with said stamp pick up region; controllably movable stamp selection means coupled to said slidable platform for transversely moving same into any selected stamp-feeding position; a horizontal stamp pickup plate in said stamp pickup region; severing knife means vertically mounted above said stamp pickup plate for downward severing movement toward and away from said stamp pickup plate and immediately behind the horizontal position of a stamp advanced onto said stamp pickup plate by any of said stamp transmissive means; moistening means positioned between said stamp pickup region and said stamp application region and below said mounting means; and pneumatic stamp pickup means carried by said reciprocating output portion of said power conversion and transmission means and operable for picking up a severed stamp from said stamp pickup plate in response to movement of said carriage means toward said stamp pickup region, said pneumatic stamp pickup means being operable to release and deposit a picked-up stamp in response to movement of said carriage means toward said stamp application region; said reciprocating output portion being operable to reciprocate said stamp pickup means toward said moistening means to place said severed stamp in moistening contact therewith, in response to movement of said carriage means toward said stamp application region while said carriage means is in an intermediate position adjacent said moistening region.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,293,959 Smith Feb. 11, 1919 2,237,641 Von Hofe Apr. 8, 1941 2,279,724 Von Hofe Apr. 14, 1942 2,765,946 Mazzone Oct. 9, 19 56 

